DCF 56.12DCF 56.12
Foster parent handbook.A licensing agency shall provide each licensed or prospective foster parent with a copy of the agency's foster parent handbook prior to or at the time of the issuance of the license to operate a foster home. The foster parent handbook shall include information on the following topics:

DCF 56.12(1)(f)(f) A brochure that explains the foster parent insurance program and information regarding how to file a claim under that program.

DCF 56.12(1)(g)(g) A brochure that explains the foster care reimbursement and rate structure, including the clothing allowance.

DCF 56.12(1)(h)(h) A brochure that explains the use and parameters of the reasonable and prudent parent standard.

DCF 56.12 NoteNote: Form DCF-P-5105, Promoting Normalcy for Children in Out-of-Home Care, is available in the forms section of the department website at http://dcf.wisconsin.gov, or by writing the Division of Safety and Permanence, P.O. Box 8916, Madison, WI 53708-8916.

DCF 56.13(1)(a)
(a) In this section, “child-specific license" means a license to operate a foster home that is issued to a relative of a child or an individual who has a previous existing relationship with the child or the child's family.

DCF 56.13(1)(b)(b) A child-specific license may remain valid with any granted waivers or exceptions for the duration of the licensing period or up to 6 months after the child returns home or is placed elsewhere, whichever occurs first.

DCF 56.13(1)(c)(c) A foster home operated by a foster parent with a child-specific license may be certified at any level of care.

DCF 56.13(2)(2)Certification.A licensing agency shall certify each foster home for a level of care under subs. (3) to (7) commensurate with the foster parent's knowledge, training, skills, experience, and relationship to the child in accordance with the licensing agency's programming and capacity.

DCF 56.13(3)(a)(a)Child-specific license.A licensing agency may grant a Level 1 certification only to a foster home operated by a foster parent with a child-specific license.

DCF 56.13(3)(b)(b)Training. Each foster parent who operates a Level 1 foster home shall complete a minimum of 6 hours of pre-placement training under s. DCF 56.14 (6) before or after the placement of a child but no later than 6 months after the date of initial licensure.

DCF 56.13 NoteNote: A foster parent with a child-specific license often does not actually receive this training before placement of the child but it is still referred to as “pre-placement training."

DCF 56.13(4)(a)1.a.a. Each foster parent who operates a Level 2 foster home shall complete a minimum of 6 hours of pre-placement training under s. DCF 56.14 (6) before or after initial licensure but prior to the placement of any child in the home.

DCF 56.13(4)(a)1.b.b. Notwithstanding subd. 1. a., each foster parent with a child-specific license who operates a Level 2 foster home shall complete the pre-placement training under s. DCF 56.14 (6) before or after the placement of a child but no later than 6 months after the date of initial licensure.

DCF 56.13 NoteNote: A foster parent with a child-specific license often does not actually receive this training before placement of the child but it is still referred to as “pre-placement training."

DCF 56.13(4)(a)2.2. Each foster parent who operates a Level 2 foster home shall complete a minimum of 30 hours of initial licensing training under s. DCF 56.14 (7) during the initial licensing period.

DCF 56.13(4)(a)3.3. Each foster parent who operates a Level 2 foster home shall complete 10 hours of ongoing training under s. DCF 56.14 (8) in each 12-month period of licensure subsequent to the initial licensing period.

DCF 56.13(4)(b)(b)References. An applicant for certification to operate a Level 2 foster home shall submit at least 3 favorable reference letters written by persons unrelated to the applicant. A reference letter shall include a statement indicating how long the person giving the reference has known the applicant, under what circumstances he or she knows the applicant, and his or her knowledge of the applicant's characteristics under s. DCF 56.05 (1) (b).

DCF 56.13(5)(a)1.e.e. A college, vocational, technical, or advanced degree in the area of a child's treatment needs, such as nursing, medicine, social work, or psychology.

DCF 56.13(5)(a)1.f.f. A substantial relationship with the child to be placed through previous professional or personal experience.

DCF 56.13(5)(a)1.g.g. Work or personal experience for which the applicant has demonstrated the knowledge, skill, ability, and motivation to meet the needs of a child with a level of need of 3.

DCF 56.13(5)(a)2.2. If an applicant for certification to operate a Level 3 foster home relies on experience that meets the requirements in subd. 1. b. or f. as one of the 3 required criteria in this paragraph, the applicant shall also meet one of the criteria in subd. 1. a., c., e., or g.

DCF 56.13(5)(b)1.1. Each foster parent who operates a Level 3 foster home shall complete a minimum of 36 hours of pre-placement training under s. DCF 56.14 (6d) before or after initial licensure but prior to the placement of any child in the home.

DCF 56.13(5)(b)2.2. Each foster parent who operates a Level 3 foster home shall complete a minimum of 24 hours of initial licensing training under s. DCF 56.14 (7e) during the initial licensing period.

DCF 56.13(5)(b)3.3. Each foster parent who operates a Level 3 foster home shall complete 18 hours of ongoing training under s. DCF 56.14 (8) in each 12-month period of licensure subsequent to the initial licensing period.

DCF 56.13(5)(c)(c)References. An applicant for certification to operate a Level 3 foster home shall submit at least 4 favorable reference letters, as follows:

DCF 56.13(5)(c)1.a.a. Three of the letters shall be written by persons unrelated to the applicant. At least one of these reference letters shall be regarding the applicant's qualifications under par. (a) 1., excluding par. (a) 1. d.

DCF 56.13(5)(c)1.b.b. The fourth favorable reference letter shall be from a relative, preferably from an adult child if applicable.

DCF 56.13(5)(c)2.2.`Content.' Each reference letter shall include a statement indicating all of the following:

DCF 56.13(6)(a)1.1. An applicant for certification to operate a Level 4 foster home shall have at least 4 of the following:

DCF 56.13(6)(a)1.a.a. A minimum of one year of experience with children with a level of need of 3 as a foster parent or kinship care provider with a child placed in his or her home for at least one year.

DCF 56.13(6)(a)1.e.e. A college, vocational, technical, or advanced degree in the area of a child's treatment needs, such as nursing, medicine, social work, or psychology.

DCF 56.13(6)(a)1.f.f. A substantial relationship with the child to be placed through previous professional or personal experience.

DCF 56.13(6)(a)1.g.g. Work or personal experience for which the applicant has demonstrated the knowledge, skill, ability, and motivation to meet the needs of children with a level of need of 4.

DCF 56.13(6)(a)2.2. If an applicant for certification to operate a Level 4 foster home relies on experience that meets the requirements in subd. 1. b. or f. as one of the 4 required criteria in this paragraph, the applicant shall also meet one of the criteria in subd. 1. a., c., e., or g.

DCF 56.13(6)(b)1.1. Each foster parent who operates a Level 4 foster home shall complete a minimum of 40 hours of pre-placement training under s. DCF 56.14 (6h) before or after initial licensure but prior to the placement of any child in the home.

DCF 56.13(6)(b)2.2. Each foster parent who operates a Level 4 foster home shall complete a minimum of 30 hours of initial licensing training under s. DCF 56.14 (7e) during the initial licensing period.

DCF 56.13(6)(b)3.3. Each foster parent who operates a Level 4 foster home shall complete 24 hours of ongoing training under s. DCF 56.14 (8) in each 12-month period of licensure subsequent to the initial licensing period.

DCF 56.13(6)(c)(c)References. An applicant for certification to operate a Level 4 foster home shall submit at least 4 favorable reference letters as follows:

DCF 56.13(6)(c)1.a.a. Three of the letters shall be written by persons unrelated to the applicant. At least one of these reference letters shall be regarding the applicant's qualifications under par. (a) 1., excluding par. (a) 1. d.